The bit that says it all !!

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That bite by Suarez on Italy's, Giorgio Chiellini, ...

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FIFA open Suarez case

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Uruguay striker Luis Suarez after he appered to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during their sides' World Cup match in Natal on Tuesday.

The incident occurred in the latter stages of the Group D encounter, which Uruguay won 1-0 to progress to the knockout stages, and although the incident was missed by the match referee, FIFA's disciplinary committee has taken retrospective action and Suarez could be facing a lengthy ban that would keep him out of the last-16 match against Colombia and beyond should Uruguay progress.

It could even end up affecting the Liverpool striker's domestic career.

Uruguay and Suarez have until 5pm local time (2100 BST) on Wednesday to provide evidence.

A statement on FIFA's website said: "FIFA can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the player Luis Suarez of Uruguay following an apparent breach of article 48 and/or article 57 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil match Italy-Uruguay played on June 24 2014.

"The player and/or the Uruguayan FA are invited to provide with their position and any documentary evidence they deem relevant until June 25 2014, 5pm, Brasilia time.

"According to article 77 lit. a of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), the FIFA Disciplinary Committee is responsible for sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the match officials' attention.

"Furthermore, according to article 96 of the FDC, any type of proof may be produced (paragraph 1), in particular are admissible, reports from referees, declarations from the parties and witnesses, material evidence, audio or video recordings (paragraph 3)."

FIFA's disciplinary code sets a maximum ban of 24 matches or two years, but the longest ban in World Cup history was eight games for Italy's Mauro Tassotti for breaking Spain's Luis Enrique's nose in 1994 with an elbow. Zinedine Zidane was given a three-match ban for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the 2006 final.

Suarez has twice been banned for biting opponents - for 10 matches in 2013 for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic and in 2010 he was given a seven-game ban while playing for Ajax for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal.


Luis Suarez "These situations happen on the pitch, we were both just inside the area, he struck me in the chest with his shoulder and he hit me in the eye as well."

Luis Suarez


FIFA's disciplinary code allows action to be taken retrospectively via video evidence even if the incident has been seen by the referee.

Suarez moved to defend himself on Uruguay television after the flashpoint.

He said: "These situations happen on the pitch, we were both just inside the area, he struck me in the chest with his shoulder and he hit me in the eye as well.

"These are things that happen on the pitch and you shouldn't attach so much importance to them.

"I'm very happy to have qualified. We are taking each game as it comes, we know that we're in a difficult situation, we're at our limits now."

Chiellini told Italian television station Rai TV that is was "ridiculous" that Suarez had remained on the field.

"It was ridiculous not to send Suarez off," he said. "It is clear, clear-cut.

"Then there was the obvious dive afterwards because he knew very well that he did something that he shouldn't have done."


Giorgio Chiellini "It was ridiculous not to send Suarez off. It is clear, clear-cut."

Giorgio Chiellini


Suarez's club, Liverpool, have declined to comment on the latest controversy surrounding their player. It is understood the club intend to allow FIFA's process to run its course.

As well as the Chelsea biting incident, Suarez, 27, has been involved in numerous controversies since joining Liverpool in 2011.

In December 2011 he was banned for eight matches for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra while he incurred a further suspension for making an offensive gesture towards Fulham fans. He has also attracted regular criticism for diving.

Jim Boyce, Britain's FIFA vice-president and head of FIFA's referees committee, expressed concerns about Suarez's actions.

He said: "I have watched the incident several times on television. There is no doubt Luis Suarez is a fantastic footballer but, once again, his actions have left him open to severe criticism.

"FIFA must investigate the incident seriously and take whatever disciplinary action deemed necessary."

After his two goals beat England on Tuesday, Suarez made reference to the criticism he had faced over his bans for biting Ivanovic and racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

He said then: "Before the game too many people in England laughed about my attitude over the last few years.

"This is a very good time for me. I want to see what they think now."

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Winning Scandinavian gambler thanks Suarez for ‘best stupid thing he could do’

While Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini reacted with horror to being bitten by Uruguay striker Luis Suarez in their World Cup match a handful of gamblers in Scandinavia were celebrating as their unlikely bet came up trumps.

Online bookmaker Betsafe had been offering odds of 175/1 that the Uruguayan, twice banned for biting, would sink his teeth into an opponent during the World Cup in Brazil.

Sure enough, over 100 gamblers decided that it was worth a punt. When Suarez duly bit Chiellini on the shoulder at the end of their Group D clash in Natal, it was time to celebrate.

One winner, Jonathan Braeck from Stenungssund in Sweden, bet 80 Swedish crowns (£7.09) that Suarez would bite, and the 23-year-old substitute teacher is now set for a payout of 14,000 crowns for his wager.

"First I thought I'd bet a little more, but a friend said I was just wasting my money," a delighted Braeck told the SportExpressen newspaper.

"When Italy took over the game you knew that he could go a little crazy," he added. "I didn't think that he would bite, but that he'd do something stupid. Then he did the best stupid thing that he could do."

Betsafe confirmed the wager, saying: "We can gladly confirm that our customer won 14,000 crowns because Suarez remarkably bit an opponent - again," Patrik Oqvist, Betsafe's marketing manager told the newspaper. "We had fun setting these strange odds and it's very nice that a customer got it right."

Braeck said he intends to spend some of his winnings on travelling to a Premier League game in England, but he will not be visiting Liverpool to see the man who helped fund his trip.

"It's be a trip to Manchester. I'm going to try to find someone to go with me to Manchester United," he said.

"If I had his (Suarez) home address I'd send him a thank-you card. It was very nice of him to bite and give me a trip to Manchester."

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Four-month ban for Suarez (the smarmy little cnut)


Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has been suspended for nine international matches and banned from all football activity for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, FIFA has announced.

The Uruguay forward will play no further part in the World Cup in Brazil after his attack on Chiellini during his side's final group game on Tuesday, a 1-0 Uruguay win which saw them progress at Italy's expense.

FIFA confirmed the news at its daily briefing in Rio de Janeiro. The player has also been fined 100,000 Swiss francs (just under £66,000).

The four-month ban would prevent Suarez playing club football for Liverpool but he and the Uruguay FA are able to appeal against the sanctions.

However, even if the appeal is lodged and the process is under way he will not be able play in any matches.

A statement from FIFA read: "The player Luis Suarez is to be suspended for nine official matches. The first match of this suspension is to be served in the upcoming FIFA World Cup fixture between Colombia and Uruguay on June 28, 2014. The remaining match suspensions shall be served in Uruguay's next FIFA World Cup match(es), as long as the team (remains in the competition), and/or in the representative team's subsequent official matches.

"The player Luis Suarez is banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) for a period of four months."


FIFA's statement continued: "A stadium ban is pronounced against the player Luis Suarez in accordance with article 21 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code as follows: the player Luis Suarez is prohibited from entering the confines of any stadium during the period of the ban.

"The player Luis Suarez is prohibited from entering the confines of any stadium in which the representative team of Uruguay is playing while he has to serve the nine-match suspension.

"The player Luis Suarez is ordered to pay a fine in the amount of 100,000 Swiss Francs."

Claudio Sulser, the chairman of the FIFA disciplinary committee, said the panel had taken into account all the factors in the case.

Sulser said: "Such behaviour cannot be tolerated on any football pitch, and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field.

"The disciplinary committee took into account all the factors of the case and the degree of Mr Suarez's guilt in accordance with the relevant provisions of the dode. The decision comes into force as soon it is communicated."

FIFA said the ban would not prevent any potential transfer if Liverpool decided to sell last season's player of the year.

As things stand, Suarez would miss Liverpool's first nine games in the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League season, three group-stage matches in the Champions League and a Capital One Cup tie.

Liverpool are biding their time before deciding their next move.

"Liverpool Football Club will wait until we have seen and had time to review the FIFA Disciplinary Committee report before making any further comment," said a statement from chief executive Ian Ayre.

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Uruguay to appeal Suarez ban

Luis Suarez's defence against a charge of biting an opponent was that he lost his balance and hit his face on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder.


His claims, which were dismissed by FIFA's disciplinary committee, are contained in the full written reasons of the ruling, a copy of which has been seen by Press Association Sport.

Suarez said in his submission: "After the impact I lost my balance, that destabilised me and I fell on top of my opponent.

"At this moment I hit my face against the player leaving a small bruise on my cheek and a strong pain in my teeth and that's why the referee stopped the match.

"That is what happened and in no way was there any case of biting or intending to bite."

The seven-man disciplinary panel dismissed his arguments and imposed a four-month ban from all football, plus nine international matches and a 100,000 Swiss francs fine (approximately £65,000).

The panel's ruling stated: "The commission took into account that the offence was made directly against a player while the ball was not in dispute and that the offence was deliberate and intentional and without provocation.

"He bit the player with the intention of wounding him or at least of destabilising him.

"In such context the committee observes that the player had been sanctioned on previous occasions in club competition for similar acts."

FIFA has been formally informed of the Uruguay FA's intention to appeal against the sanctions on Suarez.

The Uruguay football federation will now have a further seven days to prepare the paperwork for the appeal.

FIFA head of media Delia Fischer told a news conference in Rio de Janeiro: "We have received a declaration that they are planning to appeal. They informed us of their intention to appeal yesterday evening.

"The reasons for the appeal must now be given in writing within a deadline of seven days after the three days has expired."

The Liverpool striker has left the World Cup in Brazil and returned to Uruguay.

On Friday, Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez suggested the English media were to blame for the "excessive" sanction and announced he was standing down from his role on FIFA's Technical Study Group because he thought the World Cup record ban was too harsh.